By Wendy Chelette, OTR
Director of Employment Testing, Fit For Work
A Physical Demands Analysis (PDA) is foundational to an employer’s return-to-work program. Knowing and understanding the physical demands of a job are essential to development of post-offer and return-to-work testing, transitional duty, and rehabilitation programs. Employers are commonly tasked with establishing return-to-work programs to determine if injured employees are medically and functionally capable of returning to work, either in the original job position, a modified duty role, or perhaps the employee will not return to work at all post-injury. These programs encourage a collaborative process between the employer and the injured worker to understand the injury, limitations, work restrictions, expected return-to-work date, and job requirements.
Matching an Employeeā€™s Abilities with the Job Requirements
PDAs enable an effective match between an employee’s functional abilities and the job requirements throughout the return-to-work process. At any point in the delivery of medical care where a return-to-work decision is being made, the PDA can provide objective information regarding the physical demands of the job compared to the injured worker’s functional abilities.
If the injured worker’s functional abilities match that of the PDA, a decision can be made to return the worker to full duty capacity knowing the worker can safely meet the physical demands of the job. If the worker’s abilities do not match the job’s physical demands, a work conditioning or work simulation program may be helpful to address strength and endurance issues, general flexibility, and tolerance to work tasks.
In some cases, the worker’s abilities may not support returning to work in any capacity due to the severity of the injury and/or the need for additional medical care. Regardless of the employeeā€™s situation and outcome, a PDA is essential to fully understand the worker’s current job and any other job options that may be available.
Bridging the Communication Gap Between Parties
The PDA serves as a communication bridge between health care providers, insurers, employers, and employees. It ensures that all parties are on the same page and using the same language when discussing the physical demands of the job position and return-to-work goals. An integrated, well-supported return-to-work program can decrease recovery times and medical treatment, as well as lower costs associated with those treatments, improving employee physical and mental well-being throughout the return-to-work process.
Assisting with Transitional Duty Needs
PDAs can help identify transitional duty needs while a worker rehabs back to full duty work. If transitional duty is needed, PDAs from various jobs may be needed to identify suitable tasks for the injured worker. Transitional duty plans should be written in terms of job tasks rather than physical demands to be meaningful to the employer and the injured worker. Most commonly, medical providers will write work restrictions in terms of lifting limitations such as no lifting > 30 pounds or no standing > one hour at a time. The employer will need to know which tasks these restrictions apply to and which tasks are suitable for the injured worker to perform. Additionally, the PDA provides a foundation for development of post-employment fitness for duty testing to ensure the injured worker is ready to return to work in a full duty capacity.
Ergonomics and PDAs
By better understanding the physical requirements within a given role, employers can more accurately navigate the hiring process to onboard workers who will succeed in both the short and long term. This understanding also serves to elevate their return-to-work program so employees can get back to work as safety and efficiently as possible. Learn more about PDAs and why they should be a part of any healthy ergonomics program here.
About Us
Fit For Work and WorkSTEPS are leaders in employee testing, injury prevention, occupational health, safety, and risk prevention. Across our services, we bring evolving, innovative solutions to businesses throughout the United States.
